The Glasses
I am greatful for friends. As Proverbs 27:11 says"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." (ESV) Discussions with friends spur me to dig into scripture, and so has happened this week. Randy brough the first few verses of Hebrews 11 to my attention Sunday to consider in light of our discussions on apologetics and the evidence of faith.
Hebrews 11:1-3 in the NKJV reads "1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible."
Verse three is a specific application of the second definition of faith in verse one, that faith is the "evidence of things not seen", and "by faith we understand God made the worlds," so that what we see was not made out of things that are visible.
Romans 1:20-21 says that "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened."
So the Hebrews 11:3 says we understand the invisible word of God behind creation by faith, and Romans 1:20 says that we understand the invisible attributes of God by seeing the things that are made. Hebrews 11:3 seems to say that the evidence that God made the world is faith. Romans 1:20 seems to say that the evidence that God made the world is the ghings made, that they clearly point to a maker.
This is not a contradiction. In some aspects, faith is the spiritual seeing or percieving of the fingerprints of God on the things he has made. The evidence of a Creator is te creation. But you wont see it as evidence without faith, and thats why those of Romans 1:21 were simply left without excuse and condemned, and they darkened their own foolish hearts.
In some aspects, faith is a spiritual percieving or understanding act. We understand by faith,as verse three says. Most modern translations of Hebrews 11:1 say that "faith is...the conviction of things not seen" (ESV). Understanding by faith also gives us the conviction of faith. Those who do see or percieve have the evidence within themselves.
Men naturally fool themselves and image all sorts of vain things, even that what is made made itself. Men cannot perceive God's creative hand in things without faith, but how is this overcome? If you can't perceive truth without faith, and you can't have faith without perceiving the truth, how does one get faith and be saved? Because Faith is a gift from God, that no one should boast. -Ephesians 2:8 That is also why I don't have bragging rights, that I can see the truth and others not, because what do I have that I have not received?
So in presenting apologetic appeals to the lost it should be in full prayer that God would grant them faith and open their eyes and perceptions to see the truth. Real faith is based on real Truth. Hebrews 11:1 says that "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." By the one we know God's power and wisdom to make us; by the other we know His goodness and grace to save us.
Friday, December 23, 2005
Monday, December 5, 2005
The Heavens Proclaim the Glory of God, I just need to adjust my glasses.
The Heavens Proclaim the Glory of God, I Just Need to Adjust My Glasses
Click above link...
It was mid-morning and I was standing in a hall talking with the church janitor/custodian. We were having an interesting discussion about the great flood in Noah's days. "Noah brought dinosaurs on the ark," Milton said. I was shocked, and immediately set out to correct Milton on the fact that dinosaurs had become extinct millions of years before Adam and Eve ever lived, or Noah ever set foot on the Ark. "No," Milton persisted, "the Bible says that God made everything in six days."
"But Milton, the days aren't literal 24-hour days, they represent long periods of time. Evolution takes place in those 'days'"
"No," he replied, "then man's sin did not bring death into the world, God brought death into the world."
Poor ignorant man.
Let me clarify that statement, I was the poor ignorant man.
My conversations with Milton stirred my thinking and encouraged me to behave like a good Berean and search the scriptures to see if these things were true. A crisis of belief arose in me, either everything I know about evolution is wrong or the Bible is wrong.
But if the Bible is right, why would God make the world look so old, be so deceptive? Isn't Satan the great deceiver, not God? Those stupid bones in the ground...whats the deal with them I pondered to myself.
And then God provided. A friend named Pete introduced me to www.ChristianAnswers.com which in turn led me to www.AnswersInGenesis.org and radically changed my view of the Bible.
Many of the psalms, such as 8, 19, 29, 33, 65, 104 proclaim God's goodness in creation. Psalm 19:1-2 says "The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech,And night unto night reveals knowledge." But if when I look at the stars or any part of God's creation and it reveals a false knoweldge of God, then I am not looknig at the world aright.
Romans 1:18-23 tells us " 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things."
I am not content to leave men without excuse. All that does is leave them condemned in their sins. Prophets of old railed against false idols the Israelites had set up, and men today have become futile in their thoughts, exchanging God's glory in their professed wisdom for a cruel, wicked god of evolution.
Paul wrote "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" 2 Corinthians 2:3-5.
Beyond casting down all things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God, the Bible also commands us to give reasons for our faith (1 Peter 3:15), and contend earnestly for the faith (Jude 3). Paul disputed in the synagogues (Acts 17:17).
But what about Paul preaching Jesus Christ and him crucified in 1 Corinthians 2:1-2?
Dr. Jonathan Sarfati writes "...Paul did not simply ring the doorbell at Corinth and stand there mumbling, ‘Jesus Christ and him crucified’ over and over again, like a magical Hindu mantra! Rather, he had already preached to them much earlier (1 Cor. 15) and laid down the groundwork, especially about who this Jesus Christ is! This would certainly have included the groundwork of the type he explained on Mars Hill (Acts 17), where he explained that God is creator, man is a sinner, and can be saved only through Jesus who rose from the dead. In fact, Jesus Christ and Him crucified was just an abbreviated way of saying what Paul explained in more detail in ch. 15, which explicitly talks about the first Adam and the death he brought." (I recommend that everyone read that article in its fulness.)
Jesus commands us to go make disciples. Evangelism is simply the first step of discipleship. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." - II Timothy 3:16-17 It is not out of a desire to be validated in my faith by an unbelieving world that I cling tightly to the truths of scripture and the authority of the Word. It is out of love for my God, and a love for those He loves, that they may not have the wrath of God abiding on them, but that they may be sanctified by the truth: God's word is truth.
To him who has a little faith, more will be given. Set your doubts aside, look in faith, and you will see. God is awesome!
For loads of awesome videos that proclaim the Glory of God, click here. They are all free to download (Kent Hovind is a very entertaining speaker, try his seminars.)
Click above link...
It was mid-morning and I was standing in a hall talking with the church janitor/custodian. We were having an interesting discussion about the great flood in Noah's days. "Noah brought dinosaurs on the ark," Milton said. I was shocked, and immediately set out to correct Milton on the fact that dinosaurs had become extinct millions of years before Adam and Eve ever lived, or Noah ever set foot on the Ark. "No," Milton persisted, "the Bible says that God made everything in six days."
"But Milton, the days aren't literal 24-hour days, they represent long periods of time. Evolution takes place in those 'days'"
"No," he replied, "then man's sin did not bring death into the world, God brought death into the world."
Poor ignorant man.
Let me clarify that statement, I was the poor ignorant man.
My conversations with Milton stirred my thinking and encouraged me to behave like a good Berean and search the scriptures to see if these things were true. A crisis of belief arose in me, either everything I know about evolution is wrong or the Bible is wrong.
But if the Bible is right, why would God make the world look so old, be so deceptive? Isn't Satan the great deceiver, not God? Those stupid bones in the ground...whats the deal with them I pondered to myself.
And then God provided. A friend named Pete introduced me to www.ChristianAnswers.com which in turn led me to www.AnswersInGenesis.org and radically changed my view of the Bible.
Many of the psalms, such as 8, 19, 29, 33, 65, 104 proclaim God's goodness in creation. Psalm 19:1-2 says "The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech,And night unto night reveals knowledge." But if when I look at the stars or any part of God's creation and it reveals a false knoweldge of God, then I am not looknig at the world aright.
Romans 1:18-23 tells us " 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things."
I am not content to leave men without excuse. All that does is leave them condemned in their sins. Prophets of old railed against false idols the Israelites had set up, and men today have become futile in their thoughts, exchanging God's glory in their professed wisdom for a cruel, wicked god of evolution.
Paul wrote "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" 2 Corinthians 2:3-5.
Beyond casting down all things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God, the Bible also commands us to give reasons for our faith (1 Peter 3:15), and contend earnestly for the faith (Jude 3). Paul disputed in the synagogues (Acts 17:17).
But what about Paul preaching Jesus Christ and him crucified in 1 Corinthians 2:1-2?
Dr. Jonathan Sarfati writes "...Paul did not simply ring the doorbell at Corinth and stand there mumbling, ‘Jesus Christ and him crucified’ over and over again, like a magical Hindu mantra! Rather, he had already preached to them much earlier (1 Cor. 15) and laid down the groundwork, especially about who this Jesus Christ is! This would certainly have included the groundwork of the type he explained on Mars Hill (Acts 17), where he explained that God is creator, man is a sinner, and can be saved only through Jesus who rose from the dead. In fact, Jesus Christ and Him crucified was just an abbreviated way of saying what Paul explained in more detail in ch. 15, which explicitly talks about the first Adam and the death he brought." (I recommend that everyone read that article in its fulness.)
Jesus commands us to go make disciples. Evangelism is simply the first step of discipleship. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." - II Timothy 3:16-17 It is not out of a desire to be validated in my faith by an unbelieving world that I cling tightly to the truths of scripture and the authority of the Word. It is out of love for my God, and a love for those He loves, that they may not have the wrath of God abiding on them, but that they may be sanctified by the truth: God's word is truth.
To him who has a little faith, more will be given. Set your doubts aside, look in faith, and you will see. God is awesome!
For loads of awesome videos that proclaim the Glory of God, click here. They are all free to download (Kent Hovind is a very entertaining speaker, try his seminars.)
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